Bill Requires Big Stipulation for Chicago Bears to Earn Tax Money

The start of the year tends to be the time when lawmakers across all 50 states get creative by writing up bills for consideration during the calendar year. Some are downright outlandish, such as Indiana buying 30+ Illinois counties. Others beg explanation and research, such as one Illinois representative wanting to lower the drinking age to 18.

Then there are lawmakers that want to hold my favorite football team accountable if they are going to demand taxpayer dollars. Frankly, I'm all for it, but it's highly unlikely to be signed into law, in my opinion.

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This week, Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan introduced the "Balanced Earnings And Record Standards & Stadium Oversight Expectations Act," also known as "The BEARS Act" (whoever conjures up these fitting acronyms deserves to be praised for their work).

This bill would require the Chicago Bears, and any other professional sports team in Chicago, to have a .500 record (so, 9-8 at worst) or above in at least three of five regular seasons in order to receive public, taxpayer money for stadium construction, renovation, or maintenance.

Say, for example, the Bears drop below .500, as they are prone to do very often. The bill states the club would be ineligible for future funding until they improve their performance over three out of the next five seasons.

For fun, and suffering, let's take a look at the Bears' record over the last five seasons:

2019: 8-8 (did not qualify for playoffs)
2020: 8-8 (qualified for playoffs)
2021: 6-11 (did not qualify for playoffs; head coach fired)
2022: 3-14 (did not qualify for playoffs; worst record in the NFL)
2023: 7-10 (did not qualify for playoffs)
2024: 5-12 (did not qualify for playoffs; head coach fired midseason)

Photo Credit: Michael Reeves, Getty Images

To say it's been an era (error?) of futility for the Bears is putting it mildly. They haven't won a playoff game since 2011. They are now on head coach #6 since 2010. In their recent quest to figure out a plan for a new or renovated stadium, they've floated the idea of footing some of the bill to the taxpayers, a real slap-in-the-face given the product they've put out over the last several years.

And don't get me started on the Bulls or White Sox.

Per Fox 32 Chicago, Morgan stated the goal of the bill is to assure taxpayer funds would be given to teams that "demonstrate a basic level of competitiveness." He also added that sports stadiums aren't generally relied upon as a good return on investment. They create low-wage, temporary jobs, and the economic benefits rarely make up for the public subsidies they demand.

Morgan released this statement in regards to the BEARS Act:

Our primary goal with this bill is not to punish teams, but to ensure that Illinois taxpayers’ dollars are spent responsibly. No one wants to see taxpayer dollars wasted by billionaire team owners that are not investing in their teams’ competitiveness. As families across Illinois are tightening their belts due to the rising cost of living, we must be careful with how we spend limited public dollars, especially when it comes to billion-dollar franchises. Illinois should be committed to ensuring that public investments are directed to Illinois residents, and then to teams that, at the very least, are performing at a competitive level - Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan, per Fox 32 Chicago

Morgan added in his statement that with state funding under constant threat from the Trump administration, Illinois has to monitor the allocation of every cent.